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FAQ

If you're wondering what The Writing Center is, how we can support you or your students, or what some of the nuts and bolts of Writing Center are, here are a few frequently asked questions:

Who are you?

We are writers helping writers through the process of revision. We are undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty members who love to write and to help others clarify their thoughts and ideas. Meet our staff.

Where are you located?

We're located in Eads Hall, Room 111. Map to Eads Hall

When are you open?

We are open Sunday through Thursday from 11 AM to 9 PM and Friday from 11 AM to 5 PM during the school year. We have abbreviated hours during the summer sessions.

What do you do?

The Writing Center is a free service for all students (both graduate and undergraduate) currently enrolled at Washington University, as well as for faculty members. We will work with students on essays, senior theses, personal statements, and more.

What happens in a tutorial?

Students bring in what they have written, if anything, along with the assignment or prompt (if there is one). If you don't have a paper yet, that's fine--we work with students during the brainstorming process as well as the revision process.

The tutor will read your paper during the first 15 or 20 minutes of the tutorial and then discuss the paper with you. You'll get a chance to clarify your own ideas by discussing organization, development, structure, focus, introductions and conclusions, and more. We also talk about style and some of the sentence-level issues like word choice and clarity, but we do not proofread. Instead, we will identify patterns of error and help students learn to strengthen the mechanics of their own writing.

Will you proofread my paper?

No. But we will help you strengthen your own writing and grammar skills while helping you express your thoughts clearly and in an organized way.

I'm working on a really long paper. Can I bring it in?

We do work with students on longer papers and projects, but we usually can't cover more than 12-15 pages during one tutorial. Students working on theses and dissertations often work with the same tutor over a period of weeks or months, bringing in a chapter at a time.

How do I contact you? Do I need an appointment?

We do accept walk-ins sometimes, if there is a tutor available, but most of the time, we are booked. We suggest calling at least two days ahead and making an appointment (314-935-4981). We keep a waiting list even if nothing is available for the day or time you want, so don't hesitate to call even if you think we might be booked.

What happens in the workshops? Do I need to register?

The workshops are usually rather small, and we discuss different topics such as critical analyses, research papers, essay exams, resumes, personal statements, revision, and brainstorming. We do suggest that you register, but you're welcome to walk in at the last minute if there is space left, which there often is. If you are a faculty member encouraging your students to come, please tell them to call us (314-935-4981) to register.

Will you be able to help me on writing in other languages?

In the brainstorming stages, yes. We can discuss your ideas with you, help you clarify your argument and your organization, etc. We don't look at drafts in other languages, though.

Do you do electronic or phone tutorials?

If you are abroad or out of town, we would be happy to work with you over the phone or via Skype.

May I contact tutors individually?

No. When you sign up for an appointment, if you'd like to work with a specific tutor for a specific reason (a thesis or dissertation, for example), we'll let you know when that person is available. Please don't contact our tutors outside of the writing center for writing help.

I'm interested in tutoring writing. How do I become a tutor?

If you are an undergraduate, click here to find out more about our tutor training course. If you are a graduate student or faculty member interested in tutoring, please contact Dr. Robert Hakan Patterson at rhpatter@wustl.edu.

Explain your logo. What is it?

It's two people and a light bulb. The idea is that, through discussion, the two people are creating knowledge. Our philosophy is that engaging in a dialogue with a real person helps everyone figure out and articulate their ideas more clearly. That's what the light bulb is all about.